Gagaku music (Gojouraku-kyuu) from Japan

[11soccer9]

suck balls

[ToontownDeathNote]

@11soccer9 You obviously have no soul :D

[11soccer9]

omg it hate this song so im going to kill my self with a RPG

[esseaquimesmo]

@setherian

Pena que sua inteligência não consiga desenvolver crítica mais construtiva que essa...

[Setherian]

@esseaquimesmo Pena q sua inteligencia soh eh compativel com criticas construtivas, algo que sinceramente delega um intelecto nao apenas limitrofe mas sem a menor graca! rs

[fynnfish]

Just watched a Bugaku performance life.... unfortunately it was...well >_> Here on youtube it sounds much nicer than in real life, and its only 5 Minutes long. Believe me, you woundn't stand it xD

BUT the Shô is such a great intrument *_*

[ChisaiiInori]

While i really liked this it made my cat run up to me miauwing to please turn it off >.> im ashamed to admit my cat is either completely uncultured or has supersensitive ears (the highpitched sounds can get quite invase to western conditioned animal ears i guess) but i still say its pretty darn amazing!

[pranhu]

The reed, along with the horizantal flute were imported from Persia around Tang dynasty. Supposibily, We are listeing to the same tune as 700 AD music. ..

[Prissi20]

Imagine listening to this in front of a pristine forest!

now I understand why ancient court peoples used to watched Gagaku in a vast, open space.

[Setherian]

I like to call this VATOMANOKU music !

[esseaquimesmo]

@Setherian Pena que sua inteligência não consiga desenvolver crítica melhor que essa...

[Shoknifeman]

:) So wonderful, its musical poetry in the very centre of one's being

[GoodiTwoShuz]

I just LOVE gagaku! Reminds me of the ocean :-)

[afbg1988]

To my socially conditioned ears this sounds strange. But it has a really mystical air.

[afbg1988]

To my socially conditioned ears this sounds strange. But it has a really mystical air.

[queenjaime]

posters as in posters of comments...

people who post comments?

yes.

[123ShadowFox]

wow this stuff is realy deep,

i study music at school, and am curently sutdying tradition Gagaku music. if any of you could help me understand how japanese traditionaly notate this style of music, do they use visual notation or some form of manuscript? that would be good! plz help!!!!

[neonkandiekid]

They do use a visual notation, but it's nothing like western sheet music. Most of the pieces are memorized, with notation only used for reference. I can't find any good articles in English however, gomen ne!

[123ShadowFox]

Thanks!

[colombiano57]

good

[gabbynewneo]

This kind of music speaks about the thousands of generations past. The rituals, the bloodlines, the beliefs...ancient Japan is captured here. It makes me cry...

[menglongmorris]

How many of these posters actually understand this music? How many are pretending to understand it?

[ThereIsOnlyFate]

lots and lots of them ... lulz internets

[sazji]

I think everyone 'understands' it to different levels. As much as I might love it, I'll probably always hear it or respond to it differently than a Japanese person who grew up with it in a full context. In the end, the ability to let go of musical preconceptions and feel it might be more important than intellectually understanding it.

[GraigRussell]

I wouldn't assume that Japanese people grow up listening to gagaku, or any of the traditional music forms at all. Certainly much less than Westerners (or Japanese people for that matter!) listen to formal western music. I've lived here a year and have yet to meet a single Japanese person that listens to gagaku. Also, Japanese culture has become must more westernised, so for the most part I suspect they feel almost as alienated from this music as we do, even if we enjoy it.

[sazji]

True, having heard plenty of Asian pop music it's wrong to assume that everyone grows up with it. Vietnamese classical music sends me over the edge for example but lots of young people just think it's awful. Not many American kids grow up hearing classical music all the time. I did, it even got shoved down my throat. :) So my associations - whether positive or negative - will be different from those of someone from a completely different tradition who is hearing it for the first time.

[sazji]

@GraigRussell It would be interesting to know who in Japan gets involved in playing this sort of music. Is chance inspiration, or is it something passed down in families, social class...? I don't have a clue!

[GraigRussell]

Traditionally, it's hereditary, but outsiders can join a musical family. Like much of Japanese art, when the student graduates, they get a new name indicating what family they come from. Nowadays there are also university courses, I believe.

[vinniram]

why can't this be the popular music of Japan, along with other traditional Japanese music, rather than disgusting jpop?

[Skygerobrian]

if you look hard enough and keep an open mind you might find some jpop that you like

[konohamarutard]

whoa, well this is interesting.

When I heard it at first I was like... WHOA, wth is this.

But when I continued listening I started to understand and appreciate it more.

[hop1pop]

it WONT load!! ... takes tooo looong! Xc

[simoninsingapore]

I find it hard to appreciate japanese or korean court music. Hurts my ears! Well maybe I am no royalty :P

[Skygerobrian]

Equalizer.

[ju57m333]

beautiful and harmonic music :)

[funknotik]

Completely blew my mind right now..... :)

[vogelmandrie]

This is REAL music that strikes right

into your soul and ears.

[WorstPSUstudentever]

In Robert Temple's THE SIRIUS MYSTERY, the aquatic beings who bring knowledge to the Persian Gulf area are

matched by similar creatures who are the mythical bringers of knowledge to China. The famous dragons in Chinese culture seem to be later versions of the 'fish-men" "serpent" beings. I wonder if this music is not a memory, as the dragon in this song flies through the heavens, with the rather nasal tone for squawking humanity.

In short, this is music of alien contact! Just thinking...

[kinupsi]

I think the japanese think:" just play somethink and make a big name 4 it - some wannabe profs will appaud 2 it and write nice comments..hehehehihiihhohohhah­ahhuhuh" ;)

Guys, girls - they make fun of us - like "eating" with chopsticks ;)

[vinniram]

fuck you, racist piece of shit

[superjules]

The sho (mouth organ) is my favorite instrument of all time. It either sounds like Cicadas, or the buzzing in my head after drinking too much the night before.

[tatemichitaro]

lol i love you^^

[paramsaram]

this's a gagaku group in Akita, the northern part of japan, quite faraway from the capitals. nowadays i learnt that the players went to Akita and Shimane to learn gagaku, when the civil-war ruined Kyoto in 15 century.. 応仁の乱後、京都楽所の人達は雅楽を習いに秋田・山形や出雲へも­伺ったそうです。雅楽は四天王寺・奈良・京都だけではないとのこ­と‥。

[VTPPGLVR]

almost sounds like a synthesizer, or a keyboard! Ya sure they don't have one back stage? LOL

[paramsaram]

やはり何度観ても味わい深い演奏ですね

個人的には龍笛のおやっさんが好きです

雅楽は、不思議な音楽です‥

日本的なものと異国的なものが混在して

いて、、中々滅多にこんな音楽は他に

無い気がしています。　秋田の雅楽の

おやっさん達、これからも稽古と演奏

頑張ってください！

[Aviolys]

So beautiful music!!!

[Sarabin7]

うはー陰陽師の映画を思い出します。平安時代も思い浮かびます。­素敵な動画有難うございました。

Thank you very much.

[megalomania2227]

gagaku　and　japanese　culture　is　so　beautiful

i　love　my　counry'ｓ　culture

[paramsaram]

i got your love&passion, then why not try

some instrument like Ryuteki or Hichiriki?!

They're not expensive at all, and also fun

to play. Gagaku looks and sounds beatiful,

it's because they practice lots and lots.

not only because our culture is fine or sth.

you,too can try gagaku^~^

[megalomania2227]

Merci.　I'm　not　good　at　English..

I'll　try　to　go　hichiriki　kyousitsu　next　month.And　more　studying　Japanese　instrument.

Thank you for information

[azsoen]

This wonderful music is for me, both subtle and profound....'powerful'... Thank you for sharing this..:-)

[brigadetroops]

this gagaku music is Gojouraku

[VReijs]

Do you mean this music piece has as title 'Gojouraku', or do you mena it is from this region or from this type of performance?

Thanks for the feedback.

[brigadetroops]

tittl=Gojouraku-kyuu

[VReijs]

How does this relate to 'etenraku', from someone I understoond this music was part of this performance. Sorry my Japanese is not good (and thus lack part of the cultural background).

[mixolid]

I like distancial- modell scale and equidistanciality:D

[renesussmayr]

in fact to me "Gagaku" is not easy to accept but indeed it is quite charming for its profound melody~:) and i have heard that it is from China in Tand Dynasty. It is a pity that we can nolonger hear this kind of music in now day china but thanks god that Japan preserve it for us:)

[yoka955]

o i luv those things, a bit different, but they have a unique sound to them that almost sounds like the sound of nature rather than an instrument.

[navarredance]

A bit like Bjork then ?

[rozniy]

"Next, forty men in yellow, playing gossiwors. The gossiwor, played only in the king's presence, produces a preposterous disconsolate bellow. Forty of them played together shake one's reason, shake the towers of Erhenrang, shake down a last spatter of rain from the windy clouds.

If this is the Royal Music, no wonder the kings of Karhide are all mad."

Ursula le Guin, "Left hand of darkness"

[MurasakiShikibufan]

Really cool! This is quite awesome n stuff!

[kimmywas]

I know this is a long shot, But does anyone have any idea what this piece is called? I would love to use this as an example in an essay i am writing about Gagaku music.

[tgeucihtnairk]

it's an abbreviated version of a piece called "etenraku". hope it's not too late for your essay;) good luck!!

[kehoe123321]

Aldebussy's comment is right on. When I listen to this clip and close my eyes, I'm there on a warm summer night, full moon and the fresh earth aroma...shoji and tatami in the bargain. Just too good. Words fail me. Gagaku and Haiku speak to the soul.

[MurasakiShikibufan]

Ahh!

[aldebussy]

I can hear the histoy and sorrow behind the music! It's fascinating!

[Velyne]

*great sorry... --"

[Velyne]

wow that s grat! ^w^

[cymbad]

So sophisticated!Thanks!

[bellchap]

This sounds just like the beginning song from the film Rashomon...I love gagaku

[gkorein]

this reminds of uilleann pipes (irish)

[mrty132]

I'm writing a report on Japanese music. I'm trying to think how this is a reflection of Japanese society, not easy.

[wTARTZAw]

japanese music has close conection to religions.

[JudderMan25]

I'm just listening to this whilst studying kanji.

Thanks a lot for the upload.

[redwarplay]

baka

[tgeucihtnairk]

aaahhhmm, is that the only japanese word you know?! lol

[yawato]

楠袈騒餓氏ヰ那

[samcindytinker]

interesting

[ngexpert]

1 thing to say about this: barbaric.

[MtFujiInMyPantsSUGOI]

1 thing to say about ngexpert: troll

[CaiteDesu]

You're so cultured. I think you need go get out more.

[aldebussy]

A couple intersting facts:

1. If you come from a 'classical' musician's point of view, listen to John Cage and then tell me who's music is barbaric.

2. If you come from rock/rap musician's perspective, then I really have nothing to tell you because listening to crappy rap music has probably driven you deaf.

I listen to almost every sort of music from traditional Persian to Greek to Jazz and classical and after years of ear training, I find this quite astounding and beautiful.

continues

[MurasakiShikibufan]

You tell 'em!

[Skybaby79]

Grow a brain, and while you at it, take the wheels off your trailer and pick up the beer cans in your yard

[ngexpert]

look who's talking... little baby?

[RhinoGen]

Japan doesn't have a king, it has an Emperor. Longest running Royal line in the world, i believe. Look, if you have access to the internet (and apparently you do), at least verify this sort of thing.

[ngexpert]

what a ferverish jap...

[aldebussy]

I'm pretty sure those thousands of musicians who study this music are smarter than you.

[Chottegari]

one things for sure theyre smarter than u

[aldebussy]

Do you know who you're defending or who you're talking about? I am still not sure, so forgive me ifyou meant this for somebody else, but I 'defended' this music and I was arguing with somebody who was insulting them severely because of their race and their hats.

And I don't claim to be smarter.

[t3h1337h4xx0r]

Barbaric? You should listen to some experimentalist music...

[aldebussy]

You ignorant juvenile moron don't even know Japan doesn't have a king, it has an emperor and you're obviously unaware of terms: stereotyping, racism, nazism, etc and you probably have never come out of that negligent and unintelligent and totally unmotivated shell of yours to try to discover new art and appreciate it and simply don't call thousands of years of history barbaric even if it doesn't suit your taste.

[MurasakiShikibufan]

You tell 'em!

[munkytron]

this reminds me of whale song. or something from a sci fi film with aliens. cool though

[Chichiri520]

Gagaku is beautiful. It does take some time to getting used to. The sho came from the Chinese Sheng.

[bombardiere]

Omanuke san

[bombardiere]

This music is tought to be a sublime expression of elegance and refinement created by the upper class at court yards of the imperial palace on the classical age of Japan...

[aldebussy]

It's utterly mesmerizing. I can hear and see the court yards. I can smell it!

Super sublime and expressive!

[WingsTM]

This kind of reminds me how dreary and depressing feudal Japan was in the time of the Samurai...I wonder if any Gagaku pieces are upbeat.

[hirokatasugiyama]

Gagaku predates the feudal eras in Japan. Its origin traces to China and had its prime in Heian era. It was the music of shrine keepers and aristocrats. Samurais had nothing to do with it.

[ipiuq]

間

[agenttk]

Can you imagine, this was "The Thing" to do in Ancient times. Japanese court music... (I would know... doing a research project on it now... -_-)

[Maraking16]

That music was very eerie and frightened me when I first heard it. I am not trying to offend anyone who likes that music. I was just giving my opinion.

[kurenaisama]

of course not ^^ It does sound scary xD

[Icewalker]

Yume def opened me up to this. Ever since though I've listened to too many bad Gagaku things. Is that really loud one the hichiriki? Not the one playing the sho or the flute, that's hichiriki yea?

[kortebroekman]

Since Kurosawas YUME I really like this.

[Thorf13]

When I first heard this music, it was far away and feint. I thought it was a baby crying, but it didn't stop, and I wondered why no one took care of the baby! I followed the sound, and eventually found the place where they were playing. It definitely takes some getting used to, this music.

[Obbyto]

HAHAHA...

[meursault42]

I thought the EXACT same thing.

[Thorf13]

Hi. Nice work! I found out it's called Gagaku.

[VReijs]

Thanks, I changed the title and summary